Sandra Haight Poet Free verse

Nine-Seventeen Pm

At exactly nine-seventeen pm...
while I was watching a movie,
the phone rang twice and stopped.
Perhaps a wrong number dialed.

Before that thought left my mind
it rang again...I picked it up.
His voice was low, breathing hard...
his words struck like a sword...

"I'm watching you...beware."
I slammed down the phone,
paused to slowly catch my breath
and quickly called the police.

I found out that others called in
the same complaint to no avail...
his phone number, untraceable...
He was never found.

Every night, at nine-seventeen pm, 
terror strikes as I hold my breath,
counting seconds as the clock's hands
slowly pass...and then, later

Counting skipped heartbeats
as I try hard to fall asleep...
those words flashing by in my mind...
"I'm watching you...beware."


Sandra M. Haight

~8th Place~
Contest: Nineseventeen PM
Sponsor: John Lawless
Judged: July 14, 2018

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Susan Gentry July 17, 2018 at 8:04 AM Ewww!! Scary... Congratulations on your win. Start of a great short story here. Well done! Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:07 PM Yes, the theme lead to 'scary' for me! Thanks for your congrats and nice comment, Susan. Much appreciated. Hugs, Sandra

Viv Wigley July 15, 2018 at 11:10 AM Scary stuff, Sandra, insomuch as I've taken the '9' off my bedside clock. So that's alright then. Congrats! Viv x Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:06 PM Haha, good idea, Viv! Thanks for the visit and congrats! Sandra

Subimal Sinha-Roy July 15, 2018 at 2:59 AM Congratulations, Sandra on your win. I liked the poem because I wrote something similar in " A Stranger Calls At Midnight", posted on August 3, 2017. You may find it interesting. Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:13 PM Thank you, Subimal, for your congrats and supportive comment. I did read your poem, and it was awesome as I indicated in my comment there! Hugs, Sandra

Eve Roper July 14, 2018 at 10:33 AM Nicely done, I remember having a phone call just like this in my early twenties when I lived in an apartment complex. I was scary. Congratulations on your awesome win. Hugs Eve Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:04 PM Wow, that must have been very frightening, Eve! Thank you for your congratulations and nice comment. Hugs, Sandra

Edward Ibeh July 14, 2018 at 10:07 AM Heartiest congratulations on your much-deserved win, Sandra! Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:03 PM Thank you so much, Edward! Sandra

Haley Fisher July 14, 2018 at 8:47 AM Congratulations! I really liked this! Fearing 9:17 pm daily. Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:03 PM Thank you very much, Haley, for your visit and supportive comments! Sandra

James Inman July 14, 2018 at 8:01 AM I like this a lot Sandra, spooky. A great interpretation of the theme. Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:02 PM Thank you very much, James! Your visit and supportive comment are much appreciated. Sandra

John Lawless July 14, 2018 at 7:37 AM Damn Sandra....I checked all the window locks after reading this one....thanks for participating in the contest Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:01 PM Thank you for a great theme to steer our imaginations, John. I enjoyed writing for it and I appreciate my placement in your contest. Sandra

Mick Talbot July 14, 2018 at 7:22 AM Wow! A first place in my book, a forever nightmare, scary! Congratulations Sandra! Mick Sandra Haight July 17, 2018 at 8:00 PM Thank you, Mick! Your supportive comments are much appreciated! Sandra

Andrea Dietrich July 3, 2018 at 1:34 PM good approach to this theme, SAndra. I am seeing so many different ways people are looking at this one. I really liked this. Sandra Haight July 4, 2018 at 10:37 AM Thanks, Andrea...the theme makes room for lots of imagination for sure! Hugs, Sandra

Lyric Man July 2, 2018 at 11:45 PM Sandra.. creative write I enjoyed to read! Sandra Haight July 4, 2018 at 10:35 AM Thanks so much, Lyric! So many varied stories are coming out of this prompt! Sandra

Agnes Krampe July 2, 2018 at 5:26 PM Great take on the contest prompt, Sandra - I hope this did not actually happen to you. That would be so scary. Sandra Haight July 2, 2018 at 5:33 PM Hi Agnes, just fiction, but believable these days for sure. Thanks for reading it and leaving your nice comment. Hugs, Sandra

Rajat Kanti Chakrabarty July 2, 2018 at 1:03 PM It's horrible ....you have painted a grim picture of today's insecurity...... you are always under surveillance, my God... "I'm watching you...beware." It could be the act of loonies.......Beware ....A brilliant piece, Sandra..Have a good day. Hugs!>rajat Sandra Haight July 2, 2018 at 1:28 PM Thank you very much, Rajat. My poem was fiction but can be very real in today's world as you say in your comment. I very much appreciate your visit and supportive comment. Sandra